Armed Forces: Education

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the report by Child Soldiers International, Mind the Gap: Education for Minors in the British Armed Forces. [HL2119]

Lord Astor of Hever: The previous Minister for the Armed Forces met with representatives of Child Soldiers International in June of this year and discussed some of the issues that were subsequently highlighted in their report Mind the Gap: Education for Minors in the British Armed Forces. The report expressed concerns over perceived gaps in educational attainment; in future employment prospects; and in Government policies on social mobility.
The Government believe that the services provide challenging and constructive education, training and employment to many young people and that includes the provision of valuable transferable skills. The training offered by the Armed Forces includes apprenticeships in transport and warehousing, business administration and law, construction, health public service and social care. The Government see apprenticeships as the best way to learn in work and all Armed Forces apprenticeships are accredited and linked to national standards.
The Ministry of Defence thus contributes to the development of national skills, in particular by delivering approximately more than 11,000 completed apprenticeships per annum across a broad spectrum of areas. We believe that the future employment prospects for those who leave the Armed Forces are enhanced as service personnel are expected to build on the skills they gain during their initial training in order to progress throughout their service careers and beyond. Schemes are in place to support lifelong learning and this is encouraged both during service, and for those who meet the qualifying criteria, up to 10 years beyond service.
Our policies in this area allow young people to receive valuable training and education that not only meets the needs of the service, but in parallel helps the development of the individual for employment in latter years. It gives them the tools to succeed in a variety of business and skill areas, both within and beyond their service career, and thus supports social mobility.

Banking: Fund Managers

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will negotiate for fund managers to be exempt from restrictions on pay proposed by the European Union. [HL2230]

Lord Sassoon: Under the current UK remuneration framework, many fund managers are already in scope of the Financial Services Authority's remuneration code which implements the European Union's Capital Requirements Directive 3.
The aim in negotiations is always to ensure that any additional proposals are only implemented where they would enhance the existing framework. In addition, it is important to ensure that national regulators retain the discretion to apply the provisions proportionately based on an institution's size and significance.

Employment: Work Capability Assessment

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people are employed by the Department for Work and Pensions as decision makers for the purposes of the work capability assessment; and how many of those decision makers have so far received additional training as recommended by Professor Harrington in his independent review of the work capability assessment. [HL2126]

Lord Freud: There are 937 (2011-12 full time equivalent*) people employed by the department as ESA WCA Decision Makers.
Professor Harrington’s recommendations in respect of the training needs of decision makers in relation to the work capability assessment have been implemented in full. New learning was made available for decision makers on the WCA process and specifically on how to gather and use available evidence to make quality limited capability for work (LCW) and limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) decisions. Four additional training modules have been introduced in order to complement the existing decision-maker training routeway and allow us to respond as effectively as possible to Professor Harrington’s recommendations. To date those modules have been attended by a combined total of almost 4,000 participants.
The training needs of individual decision makers will vary according to their experience and not every decision maker will need to attend every module, but regular consideration is given to the ongoing training and development needs of every decision maker to ensure that each has the requisite skills and knowledge to make good decisions which give appropriate weight to additional evidence.
*Full time equivalent is a way of presenting a total count of staff based on contracted hours worked in proportion to those hours of full time staff (36 hours in London and 37 elsewhere). FTE is the way staffing figures are presented in departmental reports and headcount profile tables, and workforce plans.

EU: Budget

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 23 July (WA 90), in the event that losses of €60 billion on the European financial stability mechanism and €50 billion on the balance of payments facility were to accrue, resulting in the European Union budget going into deficit, what are the regulations on how the deficit should be covered; and what would be the effect on the remaining member states in the event of some member states being unable to meet their commitments. [HL2211]

Lord Sassoon: Article 310.1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (EU) states:
"The revenue and expenditure shown in the budget shall be in balance."
How the European Commission would raise the necessary amounts to service the debt through the EU budget in case of a default, and what that may imply for other member states contributions to the budget is set out in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000 of 22 May 2000 implementing decision 2007/436/EC, Euratom on the system of the European Communities’ own resources.
EU member states are required to make their EU budget contributions under obligations imposed by the treaties. Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2028/2004 of 16 November 2004, amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 105/2009 of 26 January 2009, makes it clear that any delay in making payments would give rise to the payment of interest by the member state concerned. There is no precedent of a member state indefinitely failing to meet its financial commitments to the EU budget.
The Government have taken action with its EU partners to mitigate the UK’s exposures to one of the financial assistance mechanisms to which the noble Lord refers. At its December 2010 meeting, the European Council agreed that the "the member states of the euro area" will establish a permanent mechanism, the European stability mechanism (ESM), to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as a whole. The ESM will replace both the euro area-only European financial stability facility and the European financial stability mechanism. The Government have ensured that the UK will not be part of the ESM.

European Investment Bank

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 23 July (WA 90), whether any loans have been made by the European Investment Bank on the basis of guarantees from the autonomous regions of Valencia and Murcia or the Bankia Group. [HL2213]

Lord Sassoon: The European Investment Bank (EIB) has confirmed that it has loans outstanding which benefit from the guarantee of these regions or of the Bankia Group. In accordance with applicable rules, the EIB is not in a position to disclose further details of such loans.

Gaza

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether imports of construction materials into Gaza have increased since the meetings in July 2012 between British diplomats and Israeli officials. [HL2215]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Despite representations to the Israeli authorities from our officials in Israel, figures from the United Nations show that fewer construction materials entered Gaza in August than July via the official crossings (63,640 tonnes compared to 74,760 tonnes). This is despite the 5 August attack by militants in Sinai which led to the Egyptian Government taking measures to close many of the tunnel crossings, leading to a 50% reduction in construction materials coming into Gaza by this means from July to August. This reduction can be explained by the fact that only international projects can import construction materials into Gaza via the official crossings so the private sector cannot make up any shortage in materials by importing through the official crossings as opposed to the tunnels. The UK continues, with others, to press the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions for Gaza.

Gibraltar

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times armed vessels from the Spanish Guardia Civil have been recorded by the Gibraltarian or United Kingdom authorities entering British Gibraltar Territorial Waters escorting Spanish fishing boats fishing illegally, in the years 2010, 2011, and to date in 2012. [HL2234]

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times Spanish Guardia Civil vessels have been recorded entering into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters escorting Spanish vessels fishing illegally in these areas each month in the years 2010, 2011, and to date in 2012. [HL2235]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: We are not aware of any incursions in 2010 or 2011 in which Guardia Civil vessels escorted Spanish fishing vessels into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. According to our records, there have been a total of 47 such incursion incidents in the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 August 2012: 10 in May; six in June; 16 in July; and 15 in August. Guardia Civil officers, including those involved in these incursions, are normally armed but their vessels are not armed.
Spanish agencies have no jurisdiction in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The Royal Navy challenges all unlawful maritime incursions by the Guardia Civil and we make formal diplomatic protests about all such incursions to the Spanish Government. In our protests we make it clear that such incursions are an unacceptable violation of British sovereignty.

Gibraltar

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times HM Ambassador to Spain has been called in by the Spanish Foreign Minister in Madrid to answer complaints from the Spanish authorities with regard to our activities in Gibraltar each month in 2010, 2011, and to date in 2012. [HL2236]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Spanish Foreign Minister has called in our ambassador to Spain once since the start of 2010 to discuss issues relating to Gibraltar. This was in March 2012. The ambassador has regular discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Gibraltar-related issues in the course of normal diplomatic business.

Gibraltar

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government many times the Spanish Ambassador to the Court of St James been called in to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to answer complaints from the United Kingdom Government over Spanish vessels fishing illegally in the British Gibraltar Territorial Waters each month in the years 2010, 2011, and to date in 2012. [HL2237]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: We have not called in the Spanish ambassador to complain about Spanish vessels fishing illegally in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters during 2010, 2011 or 2012. Before 2012 limited fishing by Spanish vessels took place, in contravention of Gibraltar law, under an informal agreement between the previous Chief Minister of Gibraltar and local Spanish fishermen. The position of the new Government of Gibraltar is that application of the law should be equal for everyone.
When the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) met the Spanish Foreign Minister on 29 May, they agreed their joint support for a local solution to the fishing dispute. This remains our position and we encourage all parties to show restraint and engage in dialogue to find a way forward.

Gibraltar

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to enhance Royal Naval resources engaged in monitoring and repressing illegal activities by Spanish fishing and Guardia Civil vessels within the British Gibraltar territorial waters. [HL2238]

Lord Astor of Hever: The Royal Navy in Gibraltar currently has sufficient assets to challenge unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels. We continually monitor the situation and routinely adjust our force posture and resources as appropriate.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress, effectiveness and achievements of the seven-nation initiative on nuclear non-proliferation, established at the 2005 United Nations World Summit in New York; and what steps they are taking to promote it. [HL2191]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The seven-nation initiative was formed in response to the lack of a substantive agreement at the 2005 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.  It helped to broaden the understanding between states of their positions on disarmament and non-proliferation ahead of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, at which consensus was reached.  Bridging the divide between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states will be a component of UK engagement in the run-up to the 2015 NPT Review Conference.  At this stage, and following the consensus in 2010, the Government do not see a need to revive the seven-nation initiative.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made as to the effectiveness of the proliferation security initiative as a counter-proliferation instrument; and what steps they have taken to promote it. [HL2192]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The proliferation security initiative (PSI) has helped to sensitise the international community to the problems of trafficking weapons of mass destruction (WMD), WMD delivery systems and related materials. Addressing these problems requires the widest possible co-operation between states. PSI provides an effective framework for building consensus and developing best practice on taking practical action. We adhere to and promote the PSI principles which are aimed at improving international efforts to halt these illicit goods in transit. We co-operate with international partners on operational activities and engage with industry on export control measures.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress towards entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and what steps they have taken to encourage its earliest possible commencement. [HL2193]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) moved a step closer in February this year with the very welcome ratification of the treaty by the Republic of Indonesia. The Government are continuing to take all appropriate opportunities to promote signature and ratification of the CTBT, including by the remaining eight Annex 2 countries. The Government are working with Annex 2 countries including the United States to promote their ratification efforts, recognising that United States ratification is likely to provide an impetus for other Annex 2 countries to follow suit.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend, the Member for North-East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt) will be attending the sixth ministerial meeting on early entry into force of the CTBT in New York city on 27 September, where he will reiterate the Government’s commitment to early entry into force of the CTBT and will highlight the work that the UK has been conducting to support the implementation of the verification regime, including the technical support provided by experts from the Ministry of Defence, the Atomic Weapons Establishment and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the CTBT Organisation.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to facilitate negotiations for a fissile material cut-off treaty. [HL2194]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The UK continues to push for the immediate start of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty in the Conference on Disarmament (CD). We believe the CD represents the best option we have for negotiations, with all the relevant states as members. At the conference in Washington of the five recognised nuclear-weapon states in June, attendees discussed how to achieve a legally binding, verifiable international ban on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. We continue to engage actively with these and other relevant states on ways to break the current impasse in the CD in advance of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in October.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Browne of Ladyton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to support the development and use of proliferation-resistant technologies in the nuclear fuel cycle. [HL2195]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The UK participates in the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Co-operation (IFNEC), which provides a forum to explore ways of ensuring that the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is efficient and meets the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. Proliferation resistance is one of several factors that will influence policy decisions on nuclear issues, such as a decision on the reuse of plutonium (www.decc.gov. uk/en/content/cros/consultations/pluto_reuse/pluto_reuse.aspx).

RAF: Drone Pilots

Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many drone pilots are currently qualified in the Royal Air Force; and how many are undergoing training. [HL2182]

Lord Astor of Hever: There are currently 31 Royal Air Force personnel qualified to pilot the Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The Royal Air Force will train a further 16 RPA pilots between October 2012 and September 2013.

Remploy

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Remploy factories have been closed as a result of their decision to withdraw their subsidy from Remploy. [HL2139]

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were made redundant at each of the Remploy factories that have closed since the start of 2012. [HL2140]

Lord Freud: Of the 27 factories and associated business identified by the Remploy board for closure and the board’s subsequent announcement on 10 July 2012, five factories have closed and 19 factories have ceased trading.
By 14 September, 977 factory employees have been made redundant.
Those former Remploy employees who are disabled and were made compulsorily redundant can now receive support from the People Help and Support Package. This package includes personalised support and the Government have made �8 million available to fund this delivery across the UK.

Sudan and South Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports published on 24 July that United Nations investigators have confirmed reports of renewed aerial bombardment of South Sudan sovereign territory at Rumaker, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, by North Sudan; what implications these have for the negotiations taking place between the two countries in Addis Ababa; and whether they intend to press for those responsible for ordering such attacks to be brought to justice. [HL2102]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: As reflected in the statement made by the President of the Security Council on 31 August, we are seriously concerned by the incident on 20 July in which an aerial bombardment by Sudanese forces is reported to have taken place across the border with South Sudan. We condemn all violations of UN Security Council Resolution 2046, including aerial bombardments and cross-border movements by armed rebel groups. The Security Council will take all violations into account in determining compliance with Resolution 2046, and any action that should be taken against either party as a consequence. None the less, we welcome the overall decline in tensions at the border since the spring. We now urge the two Governments to resolve all outstanding issues between them at the talks currently taking place in Addis Ababa.

Welfare: Social Fund

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many residents of Newcastle upon Tyne applied for loans or grants from the Social Fund in the last financial year; what proportion of applications in each category was successful; and what was the average amount awarded. [HL2114]

Lord Freud: Table 1 provides the number of initial applications, decisions and awards for community care grants, crisis loans and budgeting loans made by residents in the Northumbria Social Fund Budget Area in 2011-12. The proportion that were successful (calculated as initial awards divided by initial decisions) and the average award amounts are also given.
Table 1: Total number of community care grant, crisis loan and budgeting loan applications, decisions and awards made by residents in the Northumbria Social Fund Budget Area in 2011-12






Community Care Grants


Crisis Loans


Budgeting Loans


Total




Initial Applications


14,300


56,900


42,400


113,500




Initial Decisions


14,100


56,300


42,200


112,700




Initial Awards


5,400


45,600


30,200


81,300




Success Rate


38.4%


81.0%


71.6%


72.1%




Average Award Amount


�501


�62


�359


�202


Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System
Notes:
1. Data on community care grants, crisis loans and budgeting loans is not held by local authority or parliamentary constituency but by Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area. The figures for the Northumbria social fund budget area cover areas other than Newcastle upon Tyne.
2. The application, decision and award figures have been rounded to the nearest 100, percentages to the nearest 0.1 % and award amounts to the nearest �1.
3. The figures relate to applications, decisions or awards, not people. Individuals can apply for and receive more than one Social Fund Loan in any given year.
4. The difference between the number of initial applications received and the number of initial decisions is due to applications being withdrawn, applicants rejecting or not responding to loan offers, or decisions not being recorded on the Social Fund computer system on the date the count was made.